Sunday, February 12, 2012

(ANS – Rio de Janeiro) – The XXVIII World Youth Day (WYD), which will take place in 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, already has its logo: in a simple and easily understood fashion it contains the colours of the flag of Brazil and the symbol of its Christian faith, the figure of Christ overlooking the city of Rio.

The presentation of the logo, which was chosen in a public competition, took place on Tuesday 7 February in the presence of many religious and government authorities. Archbishop Orani João Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro, described the way the choice was made and spoke about the importance the event would be for Brazil and in particular for the city of Rio.

Fábio Castro, Director General of the “Promocat Marketing Intergado” – the firm overseeing the marketing aspects of various events promoted by the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB) – said that the logo s chosen possessed all the necessary elements: “it is a simple, delicate and modern-style logo (…) which includes different Christian messages, you just need to open your eyes.”

The creator of the logo is a young 25 year Brazilian, Gustavo Huguenin. He told journalists that he had never taken part in a WYD, but did follow the one in Madrid on the internet. “As a young Catholic I really wanted to take part. When I heard that the next one was going to be in Rio I thought there could be a competition in which to take part.”

Before designing the logo he read the whole of the Gospel according to Matthew from which the motto for the XXVIII in the series is taken: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Mt 28, 19) to meditate on it and seek inspiration. He sent in the logo on the last available day and when he was called to Rio he did not know that he had already been chosen as the winner: “I thought I was just among the finalists.”

He then explained the logo, which uses the colours of the Brazilian flag: the Risen Jesus represented by the statue of Christ the Redeemer; the heart of the disciple to whom Jesus gives the mandate to evangelise give shape to the logo; the representation of the “Sugarloaf” (the famous Rio de Janeiro hill), in the upper green part there is the Pilgrim Cross symbol of the WYD; and the sea beside the city in the blue lower part.

Further information about preparations for WYD in Rio are available on the official site: www.rio2013.com